> NXP in particular has the LPC1102, an ARM Cortex M0 with 16 pins, 32K
> of flash, 8K of RAM, and the usual set of 8bit-like features, and a
> more-or less 8bit price.
>=20
> HOWEVER, this thing comes in a WLCSP Package (Wafer Level Chip Scale
> Package), which is essentially a 4x4 Ball Grid Array with 0.5mm
> spacing.  Not hobbyist friendly at all :-(
>=20
> Now, while I myself am primarily a hobbyist when it comes to building
> hardware, it has always been my perception that there are a large
> number of "real companies" out there making "real products" that are
> never-the-less not in an economic position to commit the sort of
> resources needed to create a design based on such a part (4-layer
> extra fine-pitch PCB and probably outsourced assembly), especially
> during initial development.  And for that matter aren't really
> creating boards in high enough volumes to justify that sort of
> manufacturing for their final product, either

Having spent the last 2 days at a manufacturing show here in the UK, I was =
surprised by the number of PCB manufacturers, assembly houses and so on tou=
ting for business. Many of the assembly houses would take your schematic an=
d deliver a box containing the result, if that was how you wanted to work. =
A one off wasn't out of the question either. One I spoke to wasn't interest=
ed in doing larger than about 2500 units at a time, but would do one off qu=
ite happily.

I suspect the situation isn't that different stateside if one went out look=
ing.

So for anyone really wishing to do a one off development board to get a pro=
duct to reproducible stage probably wouldn't need to look too far, even if =
they only went as far as designing the board layout. I would be really surp=
rised if these companies cannot produce a one off in a manner that would no=
t be too dissimilar economically to doing it in house.
--=20
Scanned by iCritical.

--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.